Sabres Take Lemieux as NHL Draft Continues

Philadelphia, PA (WGR/WBEN) - The Sabres were right back at it on Saturday, kicking off the NHL Draft's second round with the selection of Brendan Lemieux, son of former NHLer, Claude.

Similar to his father, Brendan brings a tough and antagonistic playing style to Buffalo, leading Barrie (OHL) in penalty minutes during the 2013-14 season with 145. According to TSN/NHL Network analyst, Craig Button, "You don't have to look to find Lemieux. He finds you." Lemieux can also find the net, picking up 27 goals last season, plus seven in 11 playoff games.

Lemieux, 18 years old, is 6'0" and 206 pounds. Like the Sabres' first-round selection, Sam Reinhart, Lemieux comes from a hockey family. His father was part of four Stanley Cup champions, including the 1995 New Jersey Devils. Claude Lemieux scored 13 goals during the '95 postseason, an effort that earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Buffalo traded its next pick, 39 overall, to Washington in exchange for the 44th and 74th selections. With that 44th overall slot, the Sabres went with another center, Eric Cornel from Peterborough of the OHL. Cornel, 6'2" and 184 pounds, netted 25 goals and 62 points for the Petes last season and played much of the year on their top line alongside the 10th overall pick in the draft, Nick Ritchie.

With their third pick of the second round (49 overall), the Sabres landed right wing Vaclav Karabacek, coming off a postseason that saw him rack up six goals and six assists for QMJHL's Gatineau. Buffalo added a goaltender with the first selection of round three (61 overall). Jonas Johansson, a 6'3" netminder out of Sweden, is now a member of the Sabres. Johansson recorded a 2.32 GAA and .911 save percentage in 23 games for Brynas Jr.

Later in the third, with the 74th overall pick, Buffalo went defense for the first time in the draft, selecting Brycen Martin from Swift Current of the WHL. Martin recorded 37 points, including 31 assists, in 2013-14.